Water closet construction



Nov. 14, 1950 1. H. RUSSELL WATER CLOSET CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 50, 1946 R um lll mm .WM 2 R mm E INVENTOR. /ny//va Russa/ ATTORNEYS NV- 14, 1950 l. H. RUSSELL WATER cLosET coNsTRUcTIoN Filed.Dec. 30, 1946 INVENToR. /RV/NG -l. RUSSELL ATTR/VEYS Patented Nov.. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATER CLOSE'I CONSTRUCTION Irving H. Russell, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Sloan Valve Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois 2 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to water closet'constructions, and the principal object is to provide a new and improved arrangement of a water closet, a flush valve for ushing the same, and a housing to conceal the ilush valve.

The invention has as a further object to provide a water closet construction wherein there is a nush valve and a housing for concealing the flush valve together with new and novel flush valve operating means within the housing operated by a push button extending through the housing.

A further object is to provide a new and improved combination and arrangement in which the housing is directly supported on the flush valve and in which the flush valve operating mechanism is so designed that it will not interfere with the removal or replacement of the housing.

Another object is to design a flush valve so that any leakage taking place over the body of the ilush valve is readily drained away and no dripping on the toilet room :door can take place.

Another object is to provide a new and irnproved ush valve and operating means therefor which is simple in construction and easily operated.

The foregoing and other objects will be more particularly pointed out in the following description which together with the accompanying drawings shows a preferred one and several modiiications of the invention. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side View of a complete water closet installation embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a large scale front view of the iiush valve arrangement with the housingl removed from the flush valve;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional side View through the housing showing the flush valve and operating mechanism in full;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional side view through the flush valve and associated operating mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear View of the housing showing the method of supporting the same on the flush valve;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are fragmentary side views of three dierent arrangements for operating the flush valve.

Referring specically to Figs. l, 2 and 3, the preferred form of the invention is incorporated generally in a water closet combination comprising the flush valve 5 for ushing the water closet bowl 6, a seat 'I and lid 8 for the closet bowl, and

a housing 9 for enclosing the flush valve 5 arranged on the rear top side of the bowl 6 and against the wall surface I0.

The inlet water Supply II is shown in Fig. 1 as coming through the wall I0, for supplying water to the flush valve 5 and the waste pipe I2 in the floor is connected to the outlet of the bowl 6. The means for supporting the flush valve 5 upon the wall surface Ill comprisesl a bracket member I3 suitably fastened to the ush valve and slotted on opposite ends to accommodate the fastening screws I4 which are screwed into the wall I0 and thereby rigidly support the iiush valve in approximate alignment with the closet bowl 6. The top rear edge of the ush valve abuts the wall surface I and serves to further stabilize the flush valve in its position and to take undue strain from the inlet and outf let pipes connected to the ush valve.

The water supply pipe I I is connected with the throttle valve or stop I5, which in turn is `connected to the inlet side of the ush valve 5 by means of telescoping pipes I6 having ball joint connections Il and I8 on each end thereof. This arrangement provides suicient exibility of lthe parts to compensate for slight variations in the location of the water supply pipe II and the waste pipe I2 for the bowl 6. The outlet of the flush valve 5 is connected to a vacuum breaker I9 which in turn is supported in the outlet pipe 29 leading into the usual spud connection 2| on the rear ledge of the closet bowl The vacuum breaker I9 is of well-known con-A struction and includes a fiapper or valve member 22 adapted to seat and close oi the air inlet opening 23 when water flow takes place through the outlet pipe 2@ and to close off or act as a check valve on its other seat when a vacuum condition exists in the supply pipe Il to the ush valve. l age of the contents of the bowl 6 by thejadmittance of atmospheric pressure to the interior of pipe 20 through the inlet opening 23 in the well known manner. v

In order to effect the operation of the ush Valve 5 to cause a flushing of the water closet bowl 6, the operating button 25 is provided, which protrudes through an opening in the housing 9 to a position where it is adapted to be actuated by a rearward thrust of the water closet seat 8, as shown in Fig. l. The operating button 25 is supported on the rear side of the housing 5 by means of a supporting bracket 2G, more clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. The supporting bracket 26 is adapted to adjust itself automatically to This action prevents back syphoncompensate for variations in the position of the flush valve 5 with respect to the rearward ledge of the water closet bowl 6. This is necessary since the housing 9 is supported on the flush valve and is provided with overlapping side portions whch embrace the sides of the water closet ledge and thereby accurately centers the housing 9 with respect to the water closet bowl 5.

The supporting bracket 26 is provided with a re-entrant slot 2, and side slots 28, within which xed studs 29 are located, the studs 29 being threaded into bosses 3!) formed on the rearward side of the housing 9. The upper turned over edge of bracket 25 clamps the lower extended edge of button 25 to the rear side of the housing as shown.

For further details of the housing and bracket construction, reference may be had to applicants application, Serial No. 704,558, filed October 2l,

1946. The arrangement of bracket 25 is such f that when the housing 9 is slid over the flush valve 5 from the top and downward against the wall surface ID, the slotted portion 21 of bracket 26 embraces the sides of an adjustable screw 3|, which is threaded into a boss 32 formed on the front body surface of the iiush valve 5. The bracket shifts automatically to accommodate different positions of the screw 3| caused by variations in the position of the flush valve. A nut 33 threaded onto adjusting screw 3| locks the a minimum of effort to produce a iiushing oper ation of the iush valve. Due to limitations of space and the construction of the flush valve 5, it is also required that the actuating means be located some distance below the top of the flush valve.

It is likewise to be noted that the button 25 is necessarily located up near the top of the housing 9 in a position where it can receive a thrust from the lid 8 and before the lid contacts the top of the housing. The invention contemplates an arrangement to provide for the foregoing which includes a rearwardly extending portion 34 of the operating button 25, adapted to contact the free end of a vertically disposed operating lever 35 having its lower end pivoted (see Fig. 2) by means of a pin 35 passing through a bracket portion 31 formed in front side of the flush valve body. The lower portion of lever 35 is cut out as indicated at 38 to straddle and permit the adjustable screw 3! and its lock nut 33 to protrude and be accessible for adiustment through the lever 35 when the housing 9 is removed. In order to normally bias the upper end of lever 35 slightly away from the portin 34 of button 25, a coil spring 39 is provided which encircles the pin 36 and has one end engaging lever 35 and the other end the projection 31. This enables the lever 35 to be normally supported in its almost vertical position so that the housing 9 can be readily slid over the flush valve 9 into its position on the bowl ledge without contacting or fouling the lever 35 with the bracket 26.

The means for actually producing a flushing operation of the flush valve 5 comprises a herir.

zontally disposed plunger 40 extending from the front side of the ush valve and having a rear portion 4| extending to the interior of the ush valve. A restoring spring 42 holds the plunger 40 in its forward position normally into contactual relation with the lever 35, which lever, of course, lightly rests against the plunger by reason of the biasing action of the small spring 39. Clamping nut 43 holds the actuating plunger 44|! in position on the iiush valve body and serves as a stop for the shoulder between plunger 40 and portion 4|. Spring 42, in addition to serving as the restoring force for plunger 40, also restores lever 35 and button 25 after each operation thereof. A small drain hole 44 at the bottom of the plunger housing provides an outlet drain in the event that the pocking surrounding the plunger end 4| starts leaking,

It will be noted that the position of the plunger 4U with respect to the free end and the pivoted end of lever 35 is such that an amplication of the movement of lever 35 takes place when movement is imparted to the plunger 4U by the button 25. The ratio of amplification is approximately two to one, since the plunger 40 is at the approximate mid-point between the ends of the lever 35. It therefore requires very little physical effort to push the operating button and effect an operation of the flush valve.

The operating thrust of the plunger 40 results in its rear end portion 4| contacting the auxil iary or relief valve stem 45, which is incorporated within the piston 46 of the flush valve. Tilting of the auxiliary valve 45 causes the piston to rise from its seat 41, permitting water ow to take place from the inlet supply pipe ||,the throttle I5, pipe I6, through the inlet of the ush valve 5, and thence outward through the vacuum breaker I9 and the outlet pipe 2|) to the Water closet bowl 5. After the ushing action is started, pressure builds up in the chamber above the piston 46 and the packing member 48 gradually moves the piston 46 downward onto its seat 41 eventually shutting off the water flow. The general structure and operation of such flush valves are well known and need not be further pointed out.

In the operation of the arrangement according to the invention, the toilet lid 8 is given a rearward thrust against the operating button 25, which in turn, through the lever 35, causes plunger 40 to effect an operation of the ush valve. The rearward thrust of button 25 is halted when the upper end of lever engages the body of the ush valve 5 thereby preventing bending of the lever 35 or deforming the same. This engagement with the body takes place only after the operating plunger has been permitted to take a full stroke. Also when the end of lever 35 engages the flush valve body, the full thrust is against the upper portion of the valve body, which also rests at its rear sides against the wall surface |0. With this arrangement, it is not possible to bend or push the flush valve out of alignment of its position with respect to the inlet and outlet connections, which could possibly cause leaks. When it is necessary to remove the cover 49 of the flush valve for repair or adjustment of the piston and other parts of the ilush valve, the screws holding the cover onto the body of the valve are readily removed without causing a twisting or bending of the valve, which would be the case if the cover itself were screwed on.

Whenever it is necessary to adjust the position of the adjusting screw 3|, as when the housing 9 becomes loose, or when the initial installation is being made, the housing is removed by an upward movement and the operating lever 35 rotated in a downward position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. rIhis provides access to the locking nut 33 and the adjusting screw 3|, as well as the plunger 40 and the nut 43.

It will be noted that the hosing 9 tting over the flush valve 5 on the rear ledge of the bowl 6 provides an enclosure or dead air space to the mechanism including the flush valve and other1 elements. Since cold water ordinarily flows through this iiush valve, the formation of condensation is prevented due to the fact that no air currents can iiow over the cold flush valve. However, in the event sucvh action does occur in spite of the closed air space and also in the event that the drain hole 44 on the operating plunger 40 springs a leak, the leakage ows downward over the outside of the valve body and into the upper open end of the vacuum breaker I9, where it eventually accumulates and drips into the outlet pipe 29 through the air inlet 23 of the vacuum breaker, thereby effectively preventing drippage on the iioor of the washroom.

Referring now specically to Fig. 6, this shows a mcdication of the iiush valve operating means and lever arrangement oi Fig. 1. The operating button 59 is supported in the housing 9 in the same manner as in Fig. 1 by the adjustable supporting plate 26 engaging the supporting screw 3|. The lever means differs, however, in that it comprises two separate independently movable levers 5| and 52 cooperating in a manner to elTect the actuation of the plunger y4|). The lever 5| is pivoted to a projection on the flush valve body by the hinge pin 53, while the lever 52 is pivoted to the valve body by pin 54. The lower end of lever 5| and the upper end of lever 52 are arranged in abutting relationship as shown at 59, and the arrangement is such that an inward thrust of button 50 rotates the upper lever 5| in a clockwise direction to effect a rotation of the lower lever 52 in a counterclockwise direction. This does not introduce an amplication 0f power, as will be obvious, but the plunger 40 is operated with a minimum amount of eort through the linkage provided.

Referring to Fig. 7, in this arrangement the operating button 55 is provided with a projection 56 at its lower end and is hinged loosely on the rear side of the housing 9 by a shouldered screw 57. In order to bias the button 55 outwardly from the housing, a small leaf spring 58 is provided having one end attached to the screw 57, while the opposite end resiliently engages the button 55. The inward thrust of the button 55 by the toilet lid 8 swings the button inward about the pivot 57, causing the protuberance 55 to directly engage plunger 40 to effect an operation of the flush valve. No intermediate linkage is necessary.

In the modication shown in Fig. 8, the operating button Bil is likewise hinged underneath the top side of the housing 9 by a spring member 62 which swings about a pivot pin 63 arranged on the housing 9. A protuberance 64 on the rear of the button 69 is adapted to engage the lever 35 arranged similarly to the lever shown in Fig. 4.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the operating buttons are supported and carried by the housing 9, and are so arranged that no interference with the ilush valve mechanism or operating lever can take place as the housing is slid on and off of the ush valve.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a ush valve and a housing for enclosing the iiush valve, means for re movably supporting said housing on said flush valve comprising a bracket arranged on the rear of said housing engaging an adjustable screw on said ush valve, an operating button extending through said housing and supported thereon, an upwardly extending lever pivoted at its lower end to said flush valve and having its upper end arranged directly behind and in operative relation to said operating button, a plunger on said flush valve for operating the same arranged between the ends of said lever and directly behind the same and operated thereby when the operating button is actuated, said lever having a cut out portion at its lower pivoted end through which said adjustable screw extends so that the housing can engage said screw on the front side of said lever, a locking nut on said adjusting screw arranged behind said lever, said lever arranged to be rotated downward to expose said plunger and said locking nut for adjustment purposes when said housing is removed, and a spring arranged on the pivoted end of said lever for biasing the same lightly against said plunger and away from said operating button to enable said housing to be placed in position without contacting said lever.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a bracket on the flush valve below the adjustable screw, a pivot pin for Said lever extending through said bracket, said spring having a coiled portion concentric with the pivot pin of the lever and having one end portion engaging said lever and another fixed in relation to said bracket.

IRVING H. RUSSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 440,755 Craigie NOV. 18, 1890 1,337,730 Sloan Apr. 20, 1920 1,777,561 Groeniger et al. Oct. 7, 1930 1,907,683 Tews May 9, 1933- 1,975,214 Schwibinger Oct. 2, 1934 1,998,861 Campus Apr. 23, 1935 2,257,135 Sloan Sept. 30, 1941 

